Chapter 55

Chapter 55: Entering the Central Plains, Yet Everything Feels Foreign (2)

Lanzhou was both the starting point for trade routes heading to the Western Regions and the capital of Gansu Province. As a hub of culture and commerce, it always drew a great number of people.

Though many years had passed and it had now been pushed to the margins of the Central Plains, traces of its former glory remained scattered throughout.

Rare goods from the Western Regions, seldom seen elsewhere in the Central Plains, could be found here with relative ease. The market was thus always bustling with visitors, alive with the clamor of haggling voices.

"Here we have rare spices brought from the Western Regions!"

"I am selling Moon Sabers imported from the Great Food Kingdom. Only a few remain. Come, have a look!"

Two riders on horseback entered the market square as countless voices echoed around them.

"Wow!"

The chubby boy with his mouth agape and eyes wide as saucers was Bang Jin-bo. The man beside him was Dam Ho.

They had finally entered the Central Plains.

Seeing the throngs of noisy people, Bang Jin-bo felt it was truly real. So happy was he that the corners of his eyes glistened with tears.

Conversely, Dam Ho's expression remained unchanged. Still stoic, with not a flicker of emotion—his face was like a statue carved from stone.

Dam Ho finally spoke.

"Let us find an inn first."

"Yes!"

Bang Jin-bo answered with vigor. His voice was full of fighting spirit.

Lining the main road were countless inns, each overflowing with guests.

They stopped at two or three, but all turned them away, saying there were no rooms.

"Finding a room is harder than catching stars in the sky."

Bang Jin-bo grumbled after being turned away once more. But he quickly perked up and marched into the next inn with his usual energy.

Dam Ho waited outside.

Passersby stole curious glances at him, as though gazing upon some exotic artifact.

A man in black riding a pitch-black horse, dressed entirely in black. His hair too was a deep black. Naturally, their eyes were drawn to him.

Just as they watched Dam Ho, so too did Dam Ho watch the people passing by.

In Dam Ho's deep eyes, the figures of those on the street were reflected.

Countless people passed by, yet no two were alike. Each face was different, and so too were their builds and their gaits.

Some walked with vigor, others with caution. Some bore powerful strides, while others moved with a light, bouncing step.

Dam Ho took particular note of those whose steps were heavy and steady. He raised his inner perception, and he could feel their breathing.

Long yet steady breaths, and dynamic power.

'Martial artists.'

A powerful energy that could not be felt from those who had not cultivated martial arts.

In this street alone, the number of people who appeared to be martial artists exceeded forty.

Even without conscious effort, information about them flowed naturally into his mind. His body, not his mind, was the first to assess and respond to threats in his surroundings.

Upon entering a crowded place like this, that protective response manifested immediately.

None of the people traversing this street posed a level of threat sufficient to concern Dam Ho. But a question arose. The proportion of martial artists among the passersby was disproportionately high.

There were the Nine Great Sects, the Five Great Families, and countless other schools and martial academies, yet compared to the total population of the Central Plains, they were but a tiny fraction. Yet here, martial artists seemed to appear in alarming numbers.

A question arose, but he gave it no thought. It was a matter that did not concern him.

Dam Ho closed his eyes. Within his body, he felt the energy that churned like a dormant volcano.

On the journey to this place, Dam Ho had not once restrained his energy. He had felt no need to do so, and since entering the world, his heart had been somewhat elevated, and he had lost a measure of his reason.

But contrary to Dam Ho's state of mind, the energy that had been tearing through his body seeking release was gradually finding its composure.

It was like a maddened horse slowly regaining its senses.

Perhaps for that reason, the energy that would previously have erupted outward uncontrollably was now being drawn inward. The overwhelming presence that would have dominated others had also vanished.

From the opposite direction, a martial artist approached. But he walked past Dam Ho without sensing a thing, despite appearing to be of considerable skill.

At that moment, Bang Jin-bo, who had gone inside the inn, came running out in a flurry.

"Brother, they have rooms here! Heh heh!"

Bang Jin-bo's flushed face was wreathed in smiles. There was no shadow to be found anywhere on his features now.

Dam Ho patted Bang Jin-bo's head and headed to the stables attached to the rear of the inn.

A stable boy was already waiting there. Dam Ho and Bang Jin-bo handed over their horses.

"Give them plenty of beans and fodder."

"Do not worry. Our Prosperity Inn takes excellent care of the horses our guests arrive on."

The stable boy smiled brightly.

Dam Ho tossed a single coin to the stable boy and entered the inn.

The first floor of the inn was a dining hall. Twenty tables, packed to capacity without a single empty seat. And most of the patrons seated at the tables were martial artists bearing weapons.

Bang Jin-bo explained the reason.

"There is a large manor near here called the Red Cliff Manor. Its master is said to be a very famous martial artist. In a few days, it will be his birthday celebration, so many people have come to offer their congratulations."

Dam Ho nodded silently.

At that moment, a seat opened up. The diners who had been eating finally departed.

"Let us eat first."

Bang Jin-bo swiftly dashed to the empty seat and sat down. The seat was by the window, offering a view of the street.

Dam Ho sat across from Bang Jin-bo, and the stable boy they had entrusted their horses to came running over. Bang Jin-bo hurriedly spoke.

"Brother, what is this place's specialty?"

"Well! They are good at everything, but their best dish is the Lamb Offal Soup."

"What is that?"

"It is a soup made by simmering various lamb innards together. It is a dish that lets you truly enjoy the rich flavor of the innards."

"Wow! That sounds delicious. Brother, let us have that."

Bang Jin-bo looked at Dam Ho with wide, sparkling eyes. When Dam Ho nodded, Bang Jin-bo cheered.

"Brother, we will have the Lamb Offal Soup."

"Very well. It will take some time, so please be patient."

"I understand."

Bang Jin-bo smiled and nodded. His already small eyes seemed to squint even smaller when he smiled. But Bang Jin-bo did not mind.

Though they had entered the Central Plains, the Pavilion Under Heaven—the greatest chef's establishment—was still thousands of li away at East Lake. Along the way, he planned to stop at every renowned restaurant and sample their cuisine.

The mere thought of it made Bang Jin-bo's mouth water. Dam Ho quietly observed Bang Jin-bo's behavior.

Young Bang Jin-bo was chasing a dream. A dream of making people happy through his cooking. For that dream, he was enduring hardship on the road to East Lake, where the Pavilion Under Heaven stood.

In contrast, Dam Ho, who was older than Bang Jin-bo, had no dream at all. He had grown strong in order to survive, but he harbored no dream.

For the first time, Dam Ho felt envious of Bang Jin-bo. Though he was the stronger of the two, he lacked the vitality that Bang Jin-bo displayed.

"What will it taste like? Oh, I cannot wait!"

Bang Jin-bo was already rubbing his hands together in anticipation, muttering to himself. Whenever delicious food was within reach, Bang Jin-bo's mind seemed to fly to the heavens.

Dam Ho gazed out the window. Many people still bustled along the street.

He did not know what thoughts drove them in their daily lives. But one thing was certain: they lived with tremendous earnestness.

The sight of each person living with their own purpose stirred something peculiar in Dam Ho's chest.

As Dam Ho silently watched the scene outside, the inn's door suddenly burst open and a man and a woman strode in.

The man was in his early twenties, wearing blue martial robes. The woman, of similar age, wore white martial robes.

The man had a rather handsome face with sharp, keen eyes. At his waist hung a sword that radiated a faint blue glow, its presence far from ordinary.

The woman beside him was strikingly beautiful as well, drawing the gaze of every man present. For an ordinary person, such attention might have been overwhelming, but she wore a composed expression, as though well accustomed to it.

The man brushed the dust from his clothes and spoke.

"It seems every martial artist in Gansu Province has gathered in Lanzhou."

"What can you do? You cannot live in Gansu Province while ignoring the influence of the Red Cliff Manor. If you can make even a favorable impression on the great hero Lee Sin-pung, the master of the Red Cliff Manor, you could say your path to success in northern Gansu is wide open."

"Hmm! To that extent?"

"The southern part of Gansu belongs to the Tongsu Sect's territory, so there is nothing to be done. But the north is firmly under the Red Cliff Manor's control."

The Red Cliff Manor had first appeared on the Murim stage a full fifty years ago. Though that was a long time for ordinary people, it was far too short for a martial arts sect to establish itself properly.

Considering that the Nine Great Sects at the pinnacle of the Murim typically had histories spanning centuries, the Red Cliff Manor's growth was undeniably remarkable.

In just fifty years, it had achieved a prestige rivaling that of the Tongsu Sect, one of the Nine Great Sects. This was entirely due to the current master, Lee Sin-pung.

"So, Senior Brother, do not provoke the great hero Lee Sin-pung for no reason, and conduct yourself properly."

"What did I do?"

"Do you not know, which is why you ask?"

"Hmph!"

At the woman's rebuke, the man snorted.

The man possessed an extremely strong sense of pride. He despised bowing his head to others more than death itself. As a result, he had caused considerable trouble and was labeled a headache even within his own sect.

Yet his sect could not abandon him, for the sake of his extraordinary martial talent.

The man's name was Jwa Sang-cheon, a former disciple of the Hyunhyeon Sect based in Geumchang, northern Gansu Province.

The Hyunhyeon Sect was a venerable organization that had long established itself in Gansu Province. Though it had been overshadowed by the Red Cliff Manor and the Tongsu Sect, no one dismissed its latent strength. At least not in Gansu Province.

The woman's name was Mun Su-gyeong, the only daughter of Mun Se-gang, the master of the Hyunhyeon Sect. In Gansu Province, she was renowned as a woman of exceptional talent.

Their arrival caused a stir in the inn. Most of those present were martial artists based in Gansu Province. Naturally, they knew exactly who these two were.

Jwa Sang-cheon's brow furrowed as he surveyed the dining hall.

"Not even a seat here?"

His voice was thick with irritation. They had already been turned away from the previous inn, and now to find no room here either—it was infuriating.

Mun Su-gyeong was about to sigh and calm Jwa Sang-cheon when—

A group of diners in one corner rose from their seats. Only then did Jwa Sang-cheon's expression ease.

The stable boy rushed over.

"Please wait a moment. I will clear it for you immediately."

"Are there any rooms available?"

"Yes! Two are still available."

"I will take both."

"Very well."

The stable boy bowed obsequiously and hurried to clear the table. The table he cleared was right next to Dam Ho and Bang Jin-bo.

Once the table was cleared, Jwa Sang-cheon and Mun Su-gyeong took their seats.

Jwa Sang-cheon ordered his food.

"Bring one roasted duck and a bottle of Bamboo Leaf Wine. The finest you have."

"Yes!"

The stable boy dashed off to the kitchen.

Jwa Sang-cheon clicked his tongue in displeasure.

"Tch! What has come over us? Since when has the Hyunhyeon Sect had to watch the Red Cliff Manor's every move?"

"Senior Brother! Please watch your words."

"What? It is the truth."

"Hah!"

In the end, Mun Su-gyeong sighed.

Her Senior Brother possessed exceptional talent and outstanding skill, but he lacked a sense of reality.

If the Red Cliff Manor was the sun blazing in the sky, the Hyunhyeon Sect was but a moon illuminating a portion of the night sky. In terms of fame or influence, they could not compare.

Mun Se-gang, the master of the Hyunhyeon Sect, knew this well, which was why he had sent his daughter and Jwa Sang-cheon to celebrate Lee Sin-pung's birthday.

In any case, it fell to Mun Su-gyeong to keep Jwa Sang-cheon from causing trouble. He spoke without thinking, blurting out whatever came to mind, and she was already exhausted.

Mun Su-gyeong leaned back in her chair and surveyed the dining hall. Most of the people inside were martial artists, and they were stealing glances at the two. But there was one table where the people were different.

At the adjacent table sat a man in black robes and a chubby boy—Dam Ho and Bang Jin-bo.

Bang Jin-bo was speaking excitedly about something, while Dam Ho sat with his arms crossed, gazing out the window.

They were two mismatched individuals who somehow seemed to fit together perfectly.

'Are they also heading to the Red Cliff Manor?'

At that moment, the food Dam Ho and Bang Jin-bo had ordered arrived.

A large bowl of Lamb Offal Soup was placed before Bang Jin-bo, and his face broke into a broad smile.

"Wow!"

The aroma alone was extraordinary.

Bang Jin-bo ladled a bowl of Lamb Offal Soup into Dam Ho's bowl before filling his own.

"Please enjoy."

Dam Ho lifted his chopsticks first, and Bang Jin-bo began to savor the soup.

"They used star anise to mask the gamey flavor. I detect clover and astragalus as well. Where does this sweetness come from? Ah! They have added chrysanthemum."

Bang Jin-bo's face wore a rapturous expression. Mun Su-gyeong let out a soft "puh" at the sight, for Bang Jin-bo's expression was so earnest.

At the sound of laughter from beside him, Bang Jin-bo opened his eyes and looked at Mun Su-gyeong.